Homeowners warned bamboo plants can cost thousands to remove

In fact, the tall leafy plant can be “as destructive as Japanese knotweed”, according to Michael Holden, an experienced surveyor.

His client’s bamboo crossed the boundary lines into a neighbour’s property and cost his client almost £14,000 to get it fully removed.

Following this, he wants to provide detailed advice and knowledge on how and why it is so crucial for homeowners to identify and control this plant as soon as possible to prevent costly structural damage and potential legal issues.

Bamboo plants can cause damage to neighbouring properties and result in costly damage (Image: Getty) He spoke to Propertymark about the different types of bamboo, where they can cause damage, how to control it and how much it costs to remove it.

Bamboo can play an important role in the environment by absorbing significant amounts of carbon dioxide and releasing more oxygen than similar sided trees per capita, helping to mitigate climate concerns.

However, it can grow at an intensely rapid rate of almost a metre in a single day so it is important to closely manage such growth to avoid causing costly issues to your property and the land it sits on.

What different types of bamboo can you get?

When buying plants, you might come across clumping bamboo and running bamboo.

Clumping bamboo can grow in patches and has shorter rhizomes, or underground stems while running bamboo tends to expand horizontally and run ‘outwards.’

The latter tend to cause the most problems because of the speed they can grow at and the fact most British gardens do favour their growing conditions.

Plants that could damage the value of your home

Running bamboo is also considered a weed because they are hard to remove once they start growing and they can compete with other plants for nutrients.

However, both types of bamboo are classed as invasive and when they can cause damage to other people’s gardens, this is known as ‘encroachment’.

If your neighbour must recruit a professional to remove the bamboo, then they are entitled to pursue compensation which is when neighbourhood disputes can start.  

If you’re not sure what this plant is or what it looks like, it’s easy to miss bamboo growing in your garden so you can use a surveyor to help you spot it.

It may be perceived to be an unwelcome occurrence but it can help avoid paying for thousands of pounds’ worth of damage at a later point.

To avoid damage, you could put bamboo in pots (Image: Getty)

Where can bamboo cause damage on property?

Bamboo is renowned for causing damage to hard surfaces like pavements and tarmac before spreading into buildings and then taking advantage of gaps or cracks in walls, floors and drains.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) explains: “A running type of bamboo in favourable growing conditions (usually a sheltered, mild location with fertile, moisture retentive soil) can be invasive. Numerous Rhizomes spread outwards from the parent plant and are able to grow roots and shoots from any nodes along their length. Shoot growth can be rapid, potentially growing to the full height of the bamboo in one growing season.

“Bamboos can also regenerate from any section of rhizome with a node, so might be spread unintentionally by gardeners chopping up rhizomes when digging or rotavating.”

How can a surveyor help you control bamboo?

One method a surveyor would recommend when it comes to stopping bamboo would be herbicides, which are unique chemicals intended to stump bamboo growth.  

Another method would be excavation which would stop the quick infestation of bamboo by careful excavation of the above ground and below ground parts of the plant.

Can your neighbour legally cut your tree?

The other option is to dig out the entire plant and observe the area for any regrowth.

If you want to have bamboo in your garden but avoid all the potential damage and costs, you could use root barriers or plant it in containers.

For any slow-growing running bamboos, dig a trench about 30cm (12 inches) deep and sever any rhizomes you discover alongside any extensions that expand beyond your circular trench.  

Therefore, while bamboo can be dangerous when allowed to get out of control, it might not be always necessary to fully remove it.

How much does it cost to remove bamboo?  

This depends on the extent of the infestation, accessibility and chosen removal method but homeowners can expect to pay between £150 to £10,000 or more.

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Holden said: “It is important to be aware of the dangers that bamboo can cause to people’s houses and neighbours’ gardens if this plant is not managed or removed.

“Bamboo is very easy to miss in a garden if you have had no prior experience of dealing with it or have never seen it before.

“Whilst asking a surveyor to observe a garden for bamboo is often not the first thing that crosses people’s minds when they are moving into a new house, I would recommend seeking expert opinion on the different types of plants in your garden just for that peace of mind, especially if you live in an older property that is vulnerable to cracks and more.”